Leading Christian groups have spoken out against the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice’s controversial decision to permit the advertising of gambling and casinos on TV.

|TOP|The government yesterday gave the green light for TV adverts for casinos, betting shops and gambling websites, raising concern among charities over a big rise in addiction.

Currently the decision has been only made provisionally, and the Evangelical Alliance (EAUK), representing more than a million evangelicals in the UK, has expressed its hope that it would “be overturned in the light of public and professional opinion”.

The EAUK explain that a recent poll confirmed an NOP survey carried out in 2003 that over 80% of the public think there are enough opportunities to gamble already without promoting it even more on TV.

Gareth Wallace, Westminster Parliamentary Officer for the Evangelical Alliance, said, “It was Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell who stated that ‘Gambling is not an industry like any other. What can be a harmless pastime for one person can be a life-destroying addiction for another.’”

He continued, “This smacks of a lack of joined up government, reminiscent of the controversial liberalisation of licensing hours vis-à-vis anti social behaviour.

“It also features marked double standards since the Government is keen to ban all tobacco advertising. But gambling is just as damaging to the nation’s health.

|AD|“The consequences of problem gambling are well documented in respect of personal and family costs. We are disappointed that the Committee did not exercise greater moral and social responsibility.

“There can be no ‘socially responsible’ advertising of gambling, which can be highly addictive. Children will be able to view gambling advertisements on TV and in public spaces.”

The draft plans, due to come into effect next year when the controversial Gambling Act comes into force, would insert restrictions on the adverts targeting young people and the vulnerable.

However, gambling charities and campaigners against the industry are alarmed that the newly allowed adverts could lure youngsters and others into spending money they cannot afford on betting.

An Evangelical Alliance press release tells that “Advertisements promoting gambling have already sprung up on billboards across the nation; these are actually illegal under existing law which is, already, not being enforced.”

The Salvation Army, also firmly against any move that promotes gambling, have stated their concerns about the recent developments. Spokesman Captain Matt Spencer said the only point of adverts was to stimulate demand so that more people took up gambling.

He said, “The Salvation Army is concerned about the introduction of new gambling ads and the potential impact that this may have.”